Letters to the editor

Loved Jack Young’s letter on Dec. 1. Everyone thinks their “good old days” were the best, but growing up in the 1950s really WAS the best.

Thankfully, I don’t have a computer and don’t ever want one. And I still write everything in cursive.

I wore my cousin’s hand-me-down clothes and didn’t even care. Seeing movies at Sunset Drive-in Theatre, hanging out at the Old Mill or the Snak-Shak was my entertainment. Riding my bike, jump rope, hop-scotch, playing red light or kick the can was the only exercise needed.

We didn’t have much money but we were what everyone wants to be – healthy and happy.

Thanks for the wonderful reminder, Mr. Young. Guess I’m still just “old school.”

Pat Swope, Chambersburg

Freedom of religion

After reading the Public Opinion report on the Chambersburg High Glee Club performance, my hackles flew up again!

I knew earlier this had been discussed about removing the nativity scene from the “Song of Christmas” performance in their Christmas concert. So happy to know it will remain!

The Constitution gives our country freedom of religion, for one, among many others. Now we have a “law” to have “freedom from religion.” No one makes people believe or not! No one makes these people attend programs they don’t like or approve of – so stay away and just keep quiet about it!

I always understood that the majority rules – well Madalyn Murray O'Hair changed that notion years ago. She’s gone now, but the change stands. Never in my memories of our town have I known of anyone objecting to other folks’ traditions and beliefs. It was all accepted – no problems nor reason to cause any.

This is our America where we are FREE to do this. We have always helped around the world and will do so as long as we can. Life isn’t a bowl of cherries for many of us, but we keep going as well as we can.

The “Song of Christmas” is a beautifully done work by Fred Waring. Mr. Paul Lucas had the Glee Club perform it first in 1948 (the year I graduated). Everyone loved it. So touching and majestic! It still is, when performed.

All the holiday Glee Club music has been just lovely all these years. The young folks work extremely hard and it shows. We hope this will continue without foolish laws and interruptions so unnecessary, for many years. The young coming up will surely be better for it all.

It’s such a special time of year to cheer us and help us forget all the sadness we go through with the way our country is at the moment. Grinches and naysayers, please crawl in a cave and nap for eons! Merry Christmas to all.

Saundra Hemperly, Chambersburg

Budget crisis solution

The budget is supposed to be approved by the last day of the budget year. Our legislator stops their clock on that day. Their clock must be set to the time set by the US government.

The legislators and staff should lose all benefits at that time which should not be paid back to them after the budget is approved.

The governor and the legislative leadership have approved a framework for a budget.

A list of each legislator and the district they representative should be published regularly (weekly) so each can easily kept accountable to all of us. We won't have an excuse of not reminding them of their responsibility to us.

Ronald Mitchell, McConnellsburg

Key tax credits

Last month I wrote a guest essay calling on our members of the US House and Senate to address key provisions in the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit that are set to expire soon. These are two of our most important strategies for encouraging and rewarding work, and for fighting poverty. If the provisions expire, large numbers of working families here and across the country will drop into poverty, or further into it.
There is a flurry of action in Washington to pass necessary legislation this week, and those provisions are indeed included in the bipartisan tax bill. Our leaders should pass it! If you ever used your EITC refund for paying the rent, bills, or car repairs you should call the offices of Bill Shuster, Pat Toomey, and Bob Casey: ask them to support the “Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015.”
If it passes, thank those who voted for it.

Bruce Kessler, Chambersburg

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